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Laboratory Manager

Laboratory Manager
ANZSCO Code: 139913 / Group B

Plans, organises, directs, controls and coordinates the operations of a research or production laboratory.

Occupation description

Plans, organises, directs, controls and coordinates the operations of a research or production laboratory.

Laboratory Manager is a VETASSESS Group B occupation

This occupation requires a qualification assessed as comparable to the educational level of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Bachelor degree or higher.

Applicants can fulfil the assessment criteria for this occupation in four different ways.

Group B - October 2025

Description of Pathways 

The information below describes the available pathways for a Skills Assessment under Group B. Please note that in order to achieve a successful Skills Assessment Outcome, a positive assessment for both qualifications and employment is required.

Pathway 1 

This pathway requires a qualification assessed as comparable to the education level of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Bachelor degree or higher degree and in a field highly relevant to the nominated occupation. 

Bachelor degree or higher degree includes AQF Master Degree or AQF Doctoral Degree.

In addition, it is essential for applicants to meet the following employment criteria:

  • at least one year of post-qualification employment at an appropriate skill level, undertaken in the last five years,
  • working 20 hours or more per week, and
  • highly relevant to the nominated occupation.

Pathway 2

This pathway requires a qualification assessed as comparable to the education level of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Bachelor degree or higher degree and in a field not highly relevant to the nominated occupation. 

Bachelor degree or higher degree includes AQF Master Degree or AQF Doctoral Degree.

An additional qualification in a highly relevant field of study at a minimum AQF Diploma level is required. Additional qualifications in a highly relevant field of study include those comparable to the AQF Diploma or AQF Advanced Diploma or AQF Associate Degree or AQF Graduate Diploma.

In addition, it is essential for applicants to meet the following employment criteria:

  • at least two years of post-qualification employment at an appropriate skill level, undertaken in the last five years,
  • working 20 hours or more per week, and
  • highly relevant to the nominated occupation.

Pathway 3

This pathway requires a qualification assessed as comparable to the education level of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Bachelor degree or higher degree and in a field not highly relevant to the nominated occupation. 

Bachelor degree or higher degree includes AQF Master Degree or AQF Doctoral Degree.

In addition, it is essential for applicants to meet the following employment criteria:

  • at least three years of post-qualification employment at an appropriate skill level, undertaken in the last five years,
  • working 20 hours or more per week, and
  • highly relevant to the nominated occupation.

Pathway 4

This pathway requires a qualification assessed as comparable to the education level of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Bachelor degree or higher degree with or without a highly relevant major field of study to the nominated occupation.

Bachelor degree or higher degree includes AQF Master Degree or AQF Doctoral Degree.

In addition, it is essential for applicants to meet the following employment criteria:

  • at least six years of employment at an appropriate skill level that includes at least one year of highly relevant employment within the last five years before applying,
  • working 20 hours or more per week, and
  • highly relevant to the nominated occupation.

Qualification & Employment Criteria

AQF Bachelor Degree or higher

Major Fields of Study include: 

  • Laboratory technology 
  • Laboratory management 

This occupation requires a qualification assessed as comparable to the education level of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Bachelor degree or higher degree and in a field highly relevant to the nominated occupation.

Employment Criteria

Highly relevant tasks include

  • Supervises laboratory technical staff and ensures they follow standard operating procedures 
  • Manages the care, handling and disposal of hazardous substances 
  • Works with production managers to ensure efficiency and quality of operations 
  • Designs and supervises validation studies and training programs 
  • Effects procedures to ensure factory or laboratory sanitation and delivers personal hygiene programs 
  • Supervises batch manufacturing and labelling processes.  

Please note that employment managing a laboratory that is not in a research or production setting, such as pathology or general practitioner clinics, will not be assessed positively. 

Applicants for this occupation must provide an organisational chart.

Supporting material for assessment

Applicants nominating this managerial occupation must submit an organisational chart. An organisational chart should include:

  • The company letterhead,
  • Your job position,
  • The job position of your superiors and subordinates, as well as,
  • All positions reporting to your immediate supervisor and to your direct subordinates.

If you are unable to obtain an organisational chart from your employer, please provide a statutory declaration outlining the required information and the reasons why this information cannot be provided.

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If you're a professional choosing to migrate to Australia, chances are you're likely to be assessed by us. We assess 361 different professional occupations, assessing your skills, experience and qualifications.

1

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2

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3

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4

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